Maintenance history - what's realistic?

[TonyGerrard]

Maintenance history - what\'s realistic?

I'm planning to buy a twin diesel boat probably 5 - 10 years old with a detailed maintenance history - what can I reasonably hope for?
I'd like to have a full history file with invoices covering all regular engine servicing plus any additional work that's been done over the years. Do boat owners keep this level of documentation? One of the boats in which I'm interested only has maintenance history from the current owner - the years before are a complete blank, which makes me uncomfortable..........
All comments/advice appreciated.
Thanks

<hr width=100% size=1>TonyG

 

[tcm]

Re: Maintenance history - what\'s realistic?

it is quite reasonable to expect at least a record of big-diesel annual services - a bit like a Merc or other spensive car needs a service history. It can be a bit frightening for potential buyers if EVERYTHING is shown - so some brokers tip the history apart from the engine service records. But for sizeable modernish boat - that last year or so is not very good. Yiou can be as circumspect as u wd be with so-called "previously cherished" big car. in other words, short of service records, short of top price. This does not mean it's a dud, of course, but attention to deatyil wd mean attention to the deatil of keeping the records, eh?

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[Deleted User YDKXO]

Re: Maintenance history - what\'s realistic?

I dont think thats realistic. You're lucky if you get a full set of manuals let alone a service history. I take the view that a boat that looks like it's been cherished is very likely to have been serviced properly and vice versa. In any case, people find different ways of paying for servicing which does'nt necessarily generate detailed paperwork!

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[cliffdale]

Re: Maintenance history - what\'s realistic?

I bought my Moody S31 new in 1995. I kept every service invoice, maintenance bill, boat yard invoices from new knowing that they will be a powerful tool for selling the boat.



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[TonyGerrard]

Re: Maintenance history - what\'s realistic?

If you had a Targa 33/34 and wanted to sell, you'd be the very kind of vendor I'm looking for.....
All the best.

<hr width=100% size=1>TonyG

 

[longjohnsilver]

Re: Maintenance history - what\'s realistic?

Why not have an oil analysis done for the engines, cheap and will tell you if they're ok or not, then a service history is almost irrelevant. Never used them but a company called Finnings will do this for you tel 01132 382289

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[boatmad2]

Re: Maintenance history - what\'s realistic?

I get an oil sample at every service we use Robertsons at Llandudno in Wales.
Problem is a one off will only tell so much, you need a past history of samples to establish a base line for the engine.
If buying I would be happy with about 3or 4 years history anything before that is very nice but not relevant to the engine condition now.

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[Trazie]

Re: Maintenance history - what\'s realistic?

We have our engines serviced at the hourly intervals as advised by Volvo - we actually count all sea hours, therefore we are servicing before due most times. Keep all our documentation/receipts as it can only give confidence to future buyers - not that Tresor is for sale, but you never know!
personally, buying a used boat I would like to see that the manufacturers advice has been taken in regard to servicing and, trusting as I may be, would also like to see the invoices and paperwork to back this up.

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